Inflatable ball



Oct. 24, 1933. M, PlERCE 1,932,226

INFLATABLE BALL Filed March 12, 1932 INVFNT OR H0 WanL V. fierce, Q

Pa ented ea. 24, 1933 1 1,932,226

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INFLATABLE BALL Howard M. Pierce,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to A. G. Spalding & Bros., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application March 12, 1932. Serial No. 598,322

2 Claims. (Cl. 273--65) The present invention relates to inflatableballs atingmeans to facilitate the removal and replaceand embodies, morespecifically, an improved ball ment of bladders within the ball cover.having an inflatable bladder, means being pro- Further objects, notspecifically enumerated vided to efiectively secure the bladder to thecover above, will be apparent as the invention is de- 5 of the ball andenable the same to be removed and scribed in greater detail inconnection with the 60 replaced with facility. accompanying drawingwherein:

A great number of inflatable ball constructions Figure 1 is a plan viewof a ball having a. bladhave been provided with a view to facilitatingthe der secured to the ball cover and provided with an removal andreplacement of bladders from within inflating connection or valve, andmeans forconthe ball covers, aswell as to enable the bladder to nectingthe bladder to the cover in accordance 65 be efiectively positionedtherein, these previous with the present invention. constructionsembodying flaps and other engaging Figure 2 is a view in section, takenon line 2--2 elements which are adapted to be removably seof Figure 1,and looking in the direction of the cured in position to hold thebladder efiectively arrows.

1 within the cover of the ball. These devices, while Figure 3 is a viewin section, taken on line 33 70 effectively securing the bladder withinthe cover, of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the have beenrather difficult to manipulate and'in arrows, Figure 3 showing themanner in which addition to beingheavy and cumbersome have the bladderis inflated after being secured within been rather complex and expensiveto manufacthe ball cover.

ture. Furthermore, the bladders which have been Referring to thedrawing, an inflatable ball 75 usedinconnection with such securingdevices have cover is shown at 10 as being provided with an had valvessecured therein of the type commeraperture 11 through which an inflatingstem 12 is ciallyusedforinflatingvehicletires. These valves, adaptedtopass. The stem 12 may be of such being formed of metal and having springpressed length as to lie flush with the cover of the ball or checkvalves, have been difiipult to secure in the may be countersunk withrespect thereto if debladder in an air-tight fashion and therefore havesired. Under the cover and concentric with the proved unserviceable inuse. Previous valves aperture 11, a rubber disc 13 is provided, thisdisc which have not been of the metallic type have being suitablysecured to the cover and having a proven quite inadequate to preserve anair-tight leather disc Mattached thereto. Under the leath- 30 connectionagainst the internal pressure of the er disc14 is a latex or cruderubber disc 15 which 5 inflating fluid and have invariably leaked.provides a desired cushioning efiect upon the ele- An object of thepresent invention, accordingly, ments. Stitches 16 may be provided tosecure the is to provide an inflated ball having an'improved dis s i psit n, a s being formed w an form of valve to facilitate the inflationthereof, aperture which is aligned with h ape tu e 1,

the ball having a bladder which is adapted to be whereby the inflatingeck 12 of abladder 12' may 190 effectively inflated without the use of'ametallic be passed therethmtlgh to mcelve an Innatmg va1ve tool, as willbe described hereinafter.

A further object of the invention is to provide UndFr the leatherwasher, or dlsc the heads a ball of the above character having aninflating 1'1 of internally threaded rivets or shafts 18 are neck andmeans attached thereto to prevent the .Secured the recessed threadedshafts 18 q" 95 inflating fluid from escaping from the bladder the latexwasher as clearly shown m after the bladder has been. f About theinflating neck 12, a rubber washer 19 A- further object of the inventionis to provide is Secured, the Washer being formed with a the bladders ofinflatable balls, the valve con- 12 and compressthe e tightly as shownin struction being simple and effective in preserving Figure Thecompression f the neck 12 by the inflating connection in an air-tightcondition. washer 19 is sumcient to prevent the escape of A furtherobject of the invention is to provide fluid fr m the bladder and washer19 is an mflatable ban having bladder d an vided with a plurality ofapertures 21 to receive p ov means for eenneetme the bladder to the thethreaded shafts 18. Screws 22 extend within Cove Of the ballthe threadedshafts 18 and are provided with A u t er je of t invention is t p dheads 23 which engage under the washer 19 and an inflatable ball havinga cover and a bladder, secure the same effectively in the position shownan improved non-metallic valve construction for Striated aperture 20 toreceive the inflating neck mo 55 the cover and bladder being providedwith cooperin Figures 2 and 3.

After e his/alder, with its washer 19, has been secured in the, positionshown, the hell y he in fluted by inserting c round nosed hollow needle24; through the hollow neck 12, as shown in Figure it end fluidintroduced through at fitting 25 to winch the needle 24 is secured. Whenthe hitting and needle are removed, the washer 19 constricts the neck 12end the escape of the fluid therefrom is time prevented.

From; the foregoing, it will be seen that the means for securing thebladder to the cover is simple end efiective in operation. Thecooperatin pants for effecting the securing of the bladder to theooverare of such character that they may he readily constructed andeffectively operated to replace bladders conveniently. Furthermore, the

vnlve is simple in construction and efiective to prevent the escape ofthe-inflating fluid rrorn the bladder, the valve heving no metallicperts whetever. .4 e the invention hes been described with specificrefierence to the accompanying drawing,

Kit.

incensed it is not to he ted, save as defined in. the no pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An inflatable ball having a. cover formed with on aperture, 8.bladder having an inflating neck, a washer secured Within the cover andabout the aperture, threaded shafts secured under the washer, a, rubberwasher formed with on eper ture in which the neck is adapted to he constricted, and means to secure the last ed washer to the threaded shafts.

2. An inflatable ball having a, cover formed with an aperture, a bladderhaving an inflating neck, a. washer secured within the cover and aboutthe aperture, threaded shafts secured under the washer, at rubber washerformed with an aperture in which the neck is adapted. to be constricted,and threaded members to engage the threaded sheits and secure the lastnamed washer to the cover of the hell.

HOWARD M. PIEREE.

